By Rollin Grams, Bible and Mission.
Introduction
The Exodus of Israel from their subjugation in Egypt meant more than freedom. It meant becoming a people and gaining an identity among the nations. No longer a slave community serving the Egyptians, they were brought by God out of Egypt to their own land. God made a covenant with them that gave them their own, unique laws among the nations. They told their own story, beginning with the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—continuing with the judges and kings, and looking beyond their exile to God’s redemption. Yet, more than anything else, this becoming a people meant becoming the people of God, and that meant telling their story as the story of God’s dealing with them.
Our Awesome Deliverer and King (Exodus 15)
The story of God that Israel told declared that God is great and awesome. It is a story they learned at the very beginning of their history as a nation. God was their awesome deliverer. Israel would tell from generation to generation that “the LORD displayed before our eyes great and awesome signs and wonders against Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his household” (Deuteronomy 6:22). Having been liberated from slavery in Egypt and having been brought through the waters on dry ground, the Israelites sang a song about God’s wonderful works. They began, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:1). They sang, “The LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation” (v. 2). They declared, “Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power” (v. 6). They asked, “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders? (v. 11). Their song concluded by affirming God as their king: “The LORD will reign forever and ever” (v. 18). As Israel sang the story of their God, they confessed for themselves and declared to all the surrounding nations that God, their God, was great and awesome.
Our Awesome Covenant God (Exodus 34)
Israel would continue to see God’s awesome deeds as they were made his treasured possession. God said, “I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform marvels, such as have not been performed in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people among whom you live shall see the work of the LORD; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you” (Exodus 34:10).